Skip to main content

Friend's Exam, Moral Dilemma and an Unknown Lady

Saturday was rough. Truth be told, Friday was kinda rough on me. Got no sleep, got to hit the bed at around 6 in the morning. Woke up around 8:15 when Lali called me up. I was so tired I could not even curse! But I had to keep my word. I was supposed to get her to her exam day, and I did. Just after I went to sleep again and woke up around 10, just before we were supposed to meet at my place.

From there we got to the exam center. Halted in between for some much needed breakfast - the ones that reminded me of the little food I had last night. Still was not sure why I had such little appetite. A couple of lassis and two parathas proved too much for both of us, and I started feeling dizzy. The feeling stayed for a couple of hours.



The college was okay, I guess, conveniently located in the middle of a jungle, away from human habitation except for the students with little expectations. Dropping my friend of, I took a couple buses back home.

On the way back I went around a shopping mall, searching for something that I felt was missing, knowing well sure that it was not there. Or rather she was not there. Or perhaps any answer I was looking for instead was also not in that mall. It was absurd, come to think of it - it sounds ridiculous, even hilarious. In any case I got on the second bus and reached my place in an hour from there, give or take.

On the way there was this lady in a white top who sat beside me. She was probably in her mid thirties or early forties, though it is difficult to guess the age these days. I believe it was a fair assumption considering the few white hairs peeking out from the sides, carefully hidden under colored hair I supposed. She looked remarkably young and happy though, in sharp contrast to me. I perhaps looked like the walking dead in contrast. Before I was about to leave I could not help myself asking if I looked dead? She said, I did not. I left my seat and moved towards the exit gate and she turned back and asked why am I so upset. I said, I had a tough day. I lied, I had a tough night yesterday, the day was just an after effect, a problem that was coming out onto the surface desperately. She turned back, called me and said with full confidence, Don't worry, I am sure you will figure it out."

Honestly that was the best thing I heard in some time. The reassurance from the stranger (she was beautiful, I admit, and the white color couple with a slight and constant smile perhaps made her look like an angel) kinda lifted my spirits and I walked back home, had a shower and found a text and a missed call. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Operational Situational Summary - Ukraine 2 March

From a glance at the map and the news reports, it appears that the Russian advance has been very slow or even checked. However, a deeper look shows the situation has worsened significantly for Ukraine. That this happened as per my expectation in the past few posts makes me feel worse. In the North, the Russian forces have already encircled Chernihiv in the past couple of days. This is not yet fully updated on this map. The two strong armored spearheads from Konotop (which had also fallen) are currently holding in Pryluky and Nizhyn. The Chernihiv garrison probably has a day or two before the Russians reach Kozelets. Then any breakout attempt to Kyiv will become extremely difficult and will likely result in very heavy losses. It is to be expected that this city too, will fall soon without affecting the battle of Kyiv. This is bad for Ukraine. Now that the International Community has rallied for Ukraine, the previous fears of Russia dealing with breakaway republics in the East should be ...

Saraswati Puja and Valentine's Day Coincide

I used to hear this a lot - for Bengalis (Bengali Hindus), Saraswati Pujo is equivalent to the Valentine's Day . Girls would wear yellow sarees and braid their hair, while guys will be wearing yellow punjabees and white dhoti or pajama.  This time on Feb 14, 2024, they fell on the same day. Woke up pretty early in the morning, showered, wore the dhuti and uttiyo and did Saraswati Puja. Most of the mantras I have got by heart now. After the pushpanjali , I was done and we (my mother and I) could then break our fast with the Mahaprasad . Took a day off for the day, but still joined for a quick catchup call.  This is how she looks like. There is a bit of a history here. Usually, Hindus get the vigraha from the shop every year, worship and then do visarjan (immersion) in a river or pond. However, she is with us since I was in class IX. When I was in Standard X, my grandmother had died. As part of the souch (relatively inauspicious greiving period), we could not get a new vigra...

Growing up

Time affects everything and everyone We all grow up. After college, friends go places, to different states and far away countries. You get less and less time. Some go for higher studies, again, in other states. Parents get older. Then friends start getting married. First it’s usually the girls. One by one, your crushes tie the knot. You dismiss it, you are still young. Then your guy friends start getting married too. Your circle shrinks. In the end you look around. All you are left with are ideological nutjobs, immature imbeciles, idealistic crazies, bohemian hippies, or other misfits. Do you really belong here? Okay, that was too harsh. But you think. You say to yourself, ‘ dil to baccha hai jee ’.  Okay, fair enough. And then... Then, you see a growing pot belly. Something you always despised. Your dad had one (he still does). After taking a shower, you look at the mirror. You are losing hair. You search on Amazon for hair growing products - it is too much of a hassle. Hair trans...